Furnace-wall structure



Patented June 7, '1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FFHCE FRANK B. BIGELOW, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR TO lBIGELOW-LIPTAK CORPO- RATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN scannen-WALL srnu'c'runn Application led November 2, 1931. Serial No. 572,525.

M invention concerns furnace-walls and simi ar or analogous constructions and relates more articularlylcto improvements in the metal ramework which supports the bricks or refractories and to the manner of mounting the latter in position on such supporting structure.

In a sense, the present invention may be,

considered as an improvement on that of Patent 1,670,490, granted to Jack E. Bigelowson a furnace wa-ll construction, May 22, 192

One aim of the current invention is to provide a metal framework employing rolled beams or bars because of the smoothness of such members as distinguished from or contrasted with castings, and because such rolled elements, when used as horizontal sup orting means for the bricks, can be emplliyed to span wider spaces between the upright columns than can similar cast-metal parts.

As a result, the columns can be spaced farther apart than has heretofore been customary, and the framework as a whole may be lighter in weight without sacrifice in the required strength and rigidity.

A further purpose of the invention is to supply a furnace-wall in which the associated framework and the bricks or tiles which it carries form a substantially air-tight construction, avoiding the infiltration or leakage therethrough of an excess or undesired amount of air from the outside.

To enable those skilled in this art to understand the invention fully and to provide a basis for the comprehension of its accruing `penefits and advantages, in the accompanying drawing, forming a -part 'of this speciication, the invention has been illustrated in detail.

Fi re 1 is a fragmentary, vertical section t rough the improved furnace wall; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary face view of the wall with some of the bricks in position; this view being on a smaller scale than that of Figure 1. v y

For simplicity, like reference numerals have been employed in both figures to designate the same parts,

a present, preferred embodiment of' Referring to this drawing, it will be noted that the novel and improvedv furnace-wall comprises an upright metal framework composed of the required number of suitablyspaced, vertical columns 10, 10, which may be preferably the ordinary, rolled I-beams of commerce. p f

By means of bolts 11, 11, which may have relatively-small heads 12 disposed inwardly of the wall, with their nuts 13 arranged outwardly of the wall, the needed number of vertically-spaced," rolled-metal Zbars 14,14 are fastened against the inner surfaces of the columns, with their outer, upstanding flanges 15 bearing against the columns, their webs 16 projecting inwardly of the furnace,

and their inner, depending flanges 17 being spaced away from the columns, as will be readily understood and as is clearly shown in the drawing. l

The securing bolts 11 are accommodated or received in registerin holes in the flanges 15 of the Z-bars and in the contacting flanges of the upright columns.

The webs and fianges of these Z-bars are continuous and are without recesses or apertures, except tho'se hereinabove referred to, and, owing to the fact that such bars are the usual rolled members of trade and commerce, the columns may be spaced apart a greater distance than has heretofore been usual when cast-metal elements have been used in place of the Z-bars.

Stated somewhat differently, the Z-bars, being common structural steel, will span greater distances than castings of equivalent cross-sectional area. l

A limiting factor in such castings is the lengthin which they can be cast or poured and still retain the'required uniformity of shape without warping.

Such restricting characteristic, however, is not involvedin the employment of the rolled Z-bars.

Due to the use of such rolled bars, as conframework is possible, and other advantages accrue, as will be perceived from what follows.

Each such horizontal Z-bar 14 demountably carries a row of main bricks or refractories 18 which rest directly on the top face of the web 16 of the bar, some of the bricks at least having recesses or grooves 19 in their j back or outer faces to receive the bolt-heads 12 and to permit the outer surfaces of the bricks to be in contact with the front face ofthe upstanding flange 15 at 20.

Each brick has a bottom extension 21, the back wall of which bears against or contacts with the front face of flange 17vat 22, and it also has a top projection 23 accommodated beneath the web of the Z-bar-14 next above with its inner face in bearing contact at 24 with the back surface ofthe iange 17 of such upper bar. j

As shown, there is sufficient spacebetween the topsurface of the extension 23 and the under face of the web of the Z-bar 14 directly above it, and there is an adequate gap between the top face 25 of the main body of the brick and the bottom edge of the adjacent flange 17 to allow the brick` to be raised enough to permit its rocking or turning action to let the brick be inserted in the position shown or to remove it from the framework.

Rows of filler-bricks 26 are interposed between the separated rows of main bricks 18, resting on the top surfaces 25 of the latter in front of the adjoinin flanges 17.

Obviously, such fillerricks may be readily inserted in position or removed and, when j they are in place, they lock the main bricks in location and prevent their removal, but when they are taken out, the main bricks may be demounted and replaced in the manner stated above.

A layer of cement, clay, or the like 27 may be employed between the tops of the llerbricks 26 and the main bricks 18 just above'.

The two sets or groups of bricks may be arranged in straight, vertical rows, as shown inFigure 2, or the bricks 26 'may be employed in' staggered or offset relation to the other refractories.

Inasmuch as continuous -or unbroken rolled-steel Z-bars are employed in this construction for supporting or carrying the bricks, and since such bars have smooth surfaces unmarred by burrs or other`imperfections likely to occur in castings, the bricks or refractory shapes, which have flat, plane surfaces, produced as by dry pressing, are brought into firm and intimate contact with the bars in such manner as to make the wall substantially free from any objectionable passage or leakage of air therethrough.

In this connection, it should be perceived that the suspension pressure of the bricks or tiles 18 assures proper and eiicient seals between the Z-bars and the refractories at the points 24 and 2x2 and also between the bottoms of the bricks and the tops of the webs of the bars, such seals or joints being further fortified by the contact of the bricks with the front faces of the flanges 15, whereby the wall is tight against air leakage for all practical purposes.

Thus the double advantage is gained of being able to use a lighter framework and at the same time obtain a better sealed wall than has heretofore been available in this general style or type of structure.

Those acquainted with-this art will readily understand that the invention is not limited to thc precise and exact details of construction shown and described, and that various modifications may be resorted to without deviation from the principles of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and without foregoing any of the substantial advantages accruing from the employment of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a furnace-wall structure or the like, the combination of upright columns, horizontal rolled metal Z-bars secured to said columns in vertically spaced relation with their upstanding flanges against said columns and their "dependlng flanges spaced inwardly away from said columns, a row of bricks resting on the horizontal web of each of said Z- bars, each such brick having a top projection accommodated back of and bearing against the inner iange of the next Z-bar above, androws, of filler-bricks between and resting on said rows of bricks and positioned in front ofthe inner fianges of said Z-bars.

2. In a furnace-wall structure or the like, the combination of upright columns, horizontal rolled metal Z-bars secured to said columns in vertically spaced relation with their upstanding flanges against said columns and with their depending iianges spaced inwardly away from said columns, a row of bricks resting on the horizontal web of each of said .Z-bars, each of said bricks having a depending the ront face of the inner depending ange of the Z-bar, each of such bricks also having a top projection accommodated back of and bearing against the inner flange of the next Z-bar aboveLand rows ofiller-bricksbetween and resting on said rows of bricks and positioned in front of the inner anges of said Z-bars.

8. In a furnace-wall structure or the like, the combination of upright columns, horizontal rolled metal Z-bars secured to said columns in vertically spaced relation with their upstanding flanges against said columns and with their depending fianges spaced inwardly awayfrom said columns, a row of bricks resting on the horizontal web of each of said Z-bars, each of said bricks bearing against the outer, upstanding flange of the bar and ortion in front of and bearing against aeeiyrev having a depending portion in front of and bearing against the front face of the inner depending flange of the Z-bar, each such brick also having a top projection accommodated back of and bearing against the inner Harige of the next Z-bar above, and rows of fillerbricks between and resting on said rows of bricks and positioned in front of the inner ianges of said Z-bars.

4. In a furnacewvail structure or the iike5 the combination of upright columns, horizontal metai members secured to said columns in vertically-spaced relation, each of said members having a depending Harige spaced inwardly or the furnace away from said co1- umns, a row of bricks resting on each of said members, each such brick having a top projection accommodated back of and bearing against such ange of the next member above` and having a downward projection in 'front of and bearing against the Harige of the member on which the brick rests, and rows of fillerbricks between and resting on said rows of bricks in front of said member anges.

In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand and seal.

FRANK B. BIGELWY. 

